COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — AJ McCarron nearly matched Johnny Manziel with four touchdown passes and Vinnie Sunseri returned an interception 73 yards for a score, sidestepping Johnny Football on the way to the end zone, as No. 1 Alabama paid back No. 6 Texas A-and-M with a 49-42 victory Saturday.

Alabama (2-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) spotted the Aggies (2-1, 0-1) a 14-0 lead, shades of last season when A-and-M jumped out to a 20-0 lead in Tuscaloosa on the way to victory that all but won the Heisman for Manziel.

McCarron and the Tide didn’t take as long to respond this time, ripping off the next 35 points.

Manziel was his spectacular self, throwing for a career-high 464 yards and five TDs.

But Alabama’s best defense was its offense. The Tide gained 568 yards and kept Manziel on the bench with a couple of long drives.

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